Apparatus for mining



APPARATUS FOR MINING File d se t; 16, 1918 14 sheets-sheet 1 owOGo onFil ed Sept 16, 1918 '14 sheets-[sheet 2 v v LLIML E y TQ Edmzmd ill/lfryam A ir. 10, 1923. I

I E. C. MORGAN APPARATUS FOR MINING Filed Sept. 16, 1918 14 sheets-sheet4 n we 44 foz 6. )Voryan E. c. MORGAN -APPARATUS FOR MINING 14sheets-sheet 5 Filed Sept. 16

Apr. 10, 1 923. 1,451,101

E. C. MORGAN APPARATUS FOR MINING 7 Filed Sept. 16, 1918 v 14 sheets-shee 6 A kw, 1923.

E. c. MORGAN APPARATUS FOR MINING '[Flled Sept, 16, 1 918 '14sheetsrshee t II rll I'l- Apr. 10, 1923. 1,451,161 I E. C. MORGANAPPARATUS FOR MINING Filed Sept. 16, 1918 14 sheetssheet a 351 attozwzig3 Apr. 10, 1923.

E; c. MORGAN I v APPARATUS FOR [MINING v Filed Sept. 16 191 8 fshe-itlsfsheetugiz I ,A r. 10, 1923. 1,451,101 7 E. c. MORGAN APPARATUSiFoR MINING Filed Sept. 6, 1918 v 14 sheets sheet 10' -A 5r.'"10, 1923.I

. I .E. c. MORGAN APPARATUS FOR MINING.

' Filed Sepb. 16, 191B "14' she"ets sheet 1'5 III]. I n. I: II iv 5VPatented Apr. 10, 1923.

UNITED STATES EDMUND c. MORGAN, or RICHMOND HILL, NEW 03x;

APPARATUS .FOR MINING.

Application filed September 16, 1918. Serial 1V0. 254,266.

To all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, EDMUND C. MORGAN,

Richmond Hill, New York city, in the county of Queens and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forMining, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the pro- 1 vision of an improvedmethod for mining together with apparatus to be used in connection withthe improved method which shall also beof improved construction andoperation. i The invention is exemplified in the combination andarrangement of parts of the apparatus' shown in the accompanyingdrawings and described in the following specification, and in-the stepsof the process described in the specification. The invention is moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims In the drawings Fig. 1is a fragmentary horizontal section through a portion of a mine showingone arrangement of entries and chambers in connection with which myimproved method may be employed. p g

Fig.2 is a .view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the application of themethod to the whole mine. v Fig. 3 is a top plan view of apparatusforming a part ofthe present invention.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig.3. Figs. 5,6, 7 and8 taken together form a ..,top plan view' of the apparatus shown inFigs. 3 and 4 but on a much larger scale.

Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 takentogether form a side elevationof theapparatus shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. g

Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 taken together form longitudinal verticalsectional view of the apparatus shown'in Figs. 5 to 12, inclusive. Fig.17 is a top plan'view of the winding reel andcarriage forming a partofthe pres v ,ent invention.

Fig. 18 is aside elevation of the same. 7 Fig. '19 is. a verticalsection of the apparatus shown in Fig. 17. I v

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic plan view of a mine chamber showing theapplication of the apparatus shown'in Figs. 17 18 and19.

view, and I a citizen of the United States, residing at ent Fig. 21 is aFig. 22 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the portion of theminech-ainbershown in Fig. 20. Y

Fig. 23 on the sheet of drawings contain-' ing Figs. 18 and "19 is anenlarged view of "the insulating sleeve for a trolley wire.

In themining of coal or similar material by machinery where the machinesused are longitudinal vertical sectional necessarily expensive to build,it is des-ir-v able that the machines be kept in operation as nearlyconstantly as possible, and that the mining operation be concentrated asmuch a as possible so that the work' may be carried on uninterruptedlyand. with a 1 minimum amount of waste of'time and energy. The process ofmining forming a art of the present invention may be carrie out by'v'arious forms of mining machinery which perform different steps in theprocess, part of the steps being performed by a" machine of one type andother steps being performed by machinesof other types, the entireprocess being carried forward by the differmachines working incooperation with one another tosecure the rapid and economical removalof the desirable material from the mine vein. In Fig. 2 of the 2drawings, which illustrates a minelaidout' for mining according to thepresent inven--. tion, the numeral 25designates a mine shaft from whichthe coal is raised to the earths' surface or a mine tipple in casethemine is such that the loaded cars may be brought: to

the surface without the use of a shaft. Lead ing from the shaft 25 alongthe main entry of the mine is a plurality of mine tracks 26 .alongfwhichthe loaded c'ars'are'brought to the shaft" and the empty cars arereturned to the minechambers. Leading laterally from the main entry. area series of sets of butt entries 27 ,"28 and29 into which spurs fromthemain tracks 26 lead. The rooms from which the coal. is mined arearranged transversely to the spur tracksinthe entries 27 28and' 29, asshown at 30in Fig. '2' of thedrawings.

' The rooms 80 are connected to the entries tersect the entries 27, 28and 29 at an oblique. angle so thattra'cks 82 in the room necks may- Icoal excavated by continuous operation.

E sl. t e. drawin er s of eiiis we eebewawbicbarese -ret ly e igna tedby the reference letters B, C and the e ngj u eme es ated by ea h e het' efieEQ an 9- W rk il be i tr ried n ei'miiltabe l in the x e meeiseetetl by he l tter i ferredte- In er em A bieb i th e i 'i eet eem.o

theseries, a machine will operate to under b t the. m te iel to e mneel- Ib s. mai e ma be etien we knew c nstru me ene t rm. efreaeb eeeetete t he purpose beinq shown in my cope-nding application, SeriallNo.2503424, August 2 9 Wbil tb mete ie eyb 1.

t in th room A; he e ial-Pr ewer b bi tfid'tbe 2 .3 bei b sted r lnrepere eitx el-l asin A cert F s ewi n this r ln tei reb per ibs the vL 1 varl ou s necessary blasting mater al into and Out f .be."' b=imbe ne. at obi ches meebi elel' G are e wn In era ion for loading the materal prey ously blasted down, These loading machines may of a y ll, kn wnterpre ed eebe ru eit i rie in t r wa t h t ii e.; q i d e e e the, m ebnee it e lees th mater e blastedxdown in .a s ngle room.- In orderrwtbem f om; J ne m m efy be'tbei' fe hat t ey one ter me e. a ept-eel at i P1111" p se ei e e myei i li et en; Ser al 6, 8. "fi;l,.ed u s 1419. 5 -etbe m D from. ieh-t brek n. em nt ,terial hasbeen preyiouslyremoved; Inecha w: aae; win are: 1 1a. 1n ee t e prere tms the m e, er eeeebd series or minlng operat ons. The mechan sm for this purpose isillustrated in 3 t0 l ebueiv m he. if i ili e f t eie t eppl' 'at e ineach ef h ee ee A," a i sheiibe relley 'l're arl 'es and reel isillustrated? Figs,- 15 21, e es'iv r ethe rese t upplic'ation. rrymg outtheprocess it usually desira ble to' u se two or. the loading machinesandt olsets o fmejchanislnil lgfor each ofi the es}; for the reason thatone machine usually undercut the ma that "the. *maebinejsjme e. kep ebte l y in op i n, t is ef e u ee neeee ey e t 'y...op. ra e preset eelleee n h -j upon which to operate.

' the siderailsio ne r, the fo'riilard 9f.

rious rooms. For this shifting of the machines from one room to theother, the track 27 adjacent the rooms being Worked, is preferablyemployed hile the remaining tracks 28 W12 ie ele t re for the ense-oratof the coal cars to and from the rooms being Wo'rl'red'l The entries 2728 and 29 and the tracks" tl'i'er'ei'n are "used for Working the rooms30 on both sides of the entries so that the saiiie material and laborfor laying tra clgs ayailable for removing the coal 1":r"onE1"botlr1sets of rooms or chambers. The reeme y be wetke i be b. sides ett etriee. eimel eneeeel ettbe meme; alerts e. id me be we kedrfer e,.. 1el.le te e l? yfl r-eeme entbe. eitis elees evate l- The mae ieee ten unercuttin endleeele' be m ria e si erati-Yel beam and q et eepeedine y bn trae e e 4 Tbeeetreetsete preferably built up in" sections be fioreare b biieb int i ,eb i ie, theme. at... is a arter function oflftheliaching shown at H inEig'. l'of' the drawings tg'eo bring the tracksections into laice and po sition them on the mine floor. lluri ng tl-ien'l eu ibsl 21 i hedg n mate the. wer t ated m ee. exc

i at ns ft ie' ma er s adv-we d r, e 'pqee le' om! he tra k l fib l lfilif id in the h i ifi et 1 16 he n t h A are withdra i'vn' from chambers"to i mit xtensionbf the "tra 'cks'dtliat t sec i series of operationsmay be. carried 0 At the sarnetime that t hetrak is'teifig x mit ii l prp -t et r 1h ei bt hbei i the i l ey 'liii f f e so thati 3i furnishpbwr fbfthenef i; "fia qr gra,

tion's. Themachind'H iyhrcliis' used for "1 05 dv-Wi g, t e s e d el iei! ib rt n er t pe. iethei t i1 3 w 16, inclusive. 11-. eo'ni'sts "of a;forward truck, 35 and a rear truck 36 conne cted coupler Th6 fQlTWIiiQriiok i'sbesbi li' g tratedfin Figs. 7,753, 11,312,155 and" reared"comprises the usual trucli wheelsf 3,8, springs 39 for supportingtmck"bp ;1 h r k b dy iey e f e tei fe net tie'b er s an ide; a 4 eez'ieet bl by cross rails 41} Brackets eXt-end'l ret il-y om efe de e 'e t id lfiY p 'ig fi ld? plates is. A series'of track segtiop s'injay, becarried on the truck body, sl ioi'vln j'i-n Figs." 7, 8, 15' and 16.,Each Section ing e Pa bf'rail' i d ifi l ii t il- Piirotally mounted inbearings clarified 1 truok is a bar 47 haviagaans 48;igi Cured e s peeibe nde- T em. rved e vl i i' t 'l'ii at be teis r. f1 dcarry a plate4C9Wh'iohmaybe adults d tical-ly about, the pivot bari 'i- 11 be c i dpe i io sf iy 'r el; bfl m i ii sed to cooperate "with a lever.aignig5jl'w hii forms an extension of one of the arms 48. The plate 49is for the purpose of guidin the track sections onto and off of the trueand is adjusted about the pivot 47 so that its height may be regulatedto correspond to the upper surface of the pile of tracks already on thetruck.

The rear truck 36 is supportedon forward truck wheels 52 and reartruckwheels 53. The forward truck wheels 52 are provided with springs 54but the rear trucK wheels are preferably journaled in fixed bearings 55rigidly supported by a plate 56 which forms the bottom or main bodyplate for the truck. Angle bars 57 may be secured to the forward portionof the bed plate 56 for strengthening the frame of the truck. Channelplates 58 are connected with the upper face of the plate 56 and extendtransversely of the truck and an end plate 59 extends transversely ofthe truck at its forward end and is secured to the plate 56 by angleirons 60. A

pair of angle bars 61 are supported by the upper edges of channel bars58 and by an angle bar 62 on the plate 59 as shown in Fig. 14. Thechannel bars-61 are arranged near one another but spaced slightly apartat the longitudinal center of the truck and are bent downwardly at theirrear ends and secured to the bed plate 56, as shown in Fig.

13 at 63 at the rear end of the truck. 1 A motor 64 ismounted on theupperface of the bed plate 56 and has a pinion 65 meshing with a gear 66rigidly secured to the end of a sleeve 67 which is mounted. to rotate onthe axle 68 to which the rear truck wheels 53 are rigidly secured. Thesleeve 67 may be clutched to the axle 68 by a sliding clutch 69feathered to the axle and operated by a lever 70. When the clutch 69engages the sleeve 67 it will be apparent that rotation of the motor 64will drive the truck wheels 53 to propel the truck vupon the mine track.The end of the axle 68 is provided with a spiral gear 71 which drives asimilar gear 72 secured to the end of a shaft 73 journaled in a bearing74 mounted on the bed plate 56. The forward endof the shaft 7 3 isgeared to the axle 75 which carries the front truck wheels52 by spiralgearing similar'to that of the opposite end of the shaft and enclosed ina casing 76. The shaft 73 is provided with a universal joint 77 topermit of the the drum 78 may be clutchedto the shaft 79 the truck isreversed.

-n1ine props 112 are carried.

to rotate with the gear 83 when it is desired to wind the cable 85 uponthe drum. This cable. 85 extends forwardlyfbetweenguide pulleys 86mounted on the upper face of a plate 87 at the forward endof the truck.

The cable may be provided with a hook 88 tween the sides of the guard.The saw 90 is drivenby a belt 92 which passes over a pulley 93 on ashaft 94 which is provided with a pinion 95 meshingwith the gear 66which drives the sleeve 67. The belt 92 passes loosely over its pulleysso that ordinarily the belt will slip on the pulley and motion will notbe transmitted to the saw 90. A belt tightener comprising a lever 96 andan idler 97 arranged to engage the belt 92 is provided for placingsuflicient tension in the belt 92 to drive the saw 90 when it is desiredto do so. The lever 96 is connected by a link 98 to a rocker arm 99 andlever 100 by which the tightener may be moved to cause the saw torotate. A ratchet bar 101 isprovided for holding the lever 100 inadjusted positions. A saw carriage 102 extends across the truck frameand is provided with 'two sections 103 105 which permits the saw '90 topass trans versely across the carriage through the central slot providedbetween the two sections.

The carriage is fed'toward and away-from the saw 90 by hand wheels 106connected'by rods 107 to pinions 108 arranged to travel on rack bars 109supported on the upper surface of the two angle bars61.

Electric current for the motor-64 is led to the truck through trolleypoles.110' of which there are two provided so that it is not I necessaryto swing the trolley pole around when the'direction of movement of motor64 passes through a controller 111 mounted on therear portion of the bedplate 56 WhlCh forms a platform for the operator The current 'for the.

andafi'ords space forjcarryingany equipment desired.

At the forward end of the truck theplates 58 and 59 partially enclose aspace in which The space is widelenough to accommodate two tiers ofprops one ateach side of the machine, as

illustrated in Fig. 6, and the saw carriage 102 is made of proper. sizeand shape to ac-- '1 1 to shorten the prop by cutting off a portion i ofits end," j

The mechanism for hanging the trolley mechanism is carried on the truckwheels 115, therear wheels being provided with springs 116 and the frontwheels being jo-ur naled directly in supports 117 on which the casingfor the reel is mounted. The truck body comprises a platform 118 whichcarries a motor 119' and a bearing sleeve 120- in which an upright-shaft121 is ournaled carrying a gear 122 arranged to mesh with a pinion 123driven by the motor 119. A reel- 124 on which the trolley wire 125 iswound is journaled on the upper portion of the shaft 121 and carries onits lower face an internalspur gear 126'. A gear wheel 12'. meshes withthe gear 126 and is carried on a shaft journaled in a bearing l28supported on the platform 118. Thelower end of the shaft which carriesthe gear wheel 127 is provided with a brake 129 operated by a hand lever130. The gear 127 is-d'riven from the motor 119 through a pinion 131 onthe shaft 121. Two sets of arms 132- are pivotal-ly mounted to extenddownwardly from the platform 118 and carry a: pair" ofskids 133 at theirlowerends. The arms 132 may be swung vertically relatively to the truckplatform by a: hand wheel'134 secured to a shaft 135 journaled! inbearings 136- and provided with w0rms=137 which mesh with worm gears138' connected with the arms 132 so that when 35;;

the hand wheel2134 is rotated the arms .132 are swung upwardly ordownwardly depending upon the direction of rotation of the hand wheeland thus the skids 133 may be raised or lowered into orout ofengagement: with the surface of the mine floor. The skids 133 arepreferably provided with a pair of screw jacks: 139 which may be broughtinto. engagement with the roof of the mine chamber to hold the truckfirmly in place.

In hanging the cable 125 it is securedto thermine props very close tothe roof of the mine chamber, and in order that the cable may run freelyfrom the reel 124 the axis of the, reel is tilted slightly from thevertical, asishownin Figs. 18 and 19 sothat the trolley line 125 willextend from the reel at right" angles to its axis, as shown in Fig. 21.A guide for the trolley wire as 1t 18 wound onto andoff of the reel 124is shown at 140 in the drawings and is freeto slide in a slot 141 inthereel casing so that the trolley wire may; accommodate. itself to. theposition of the windings on the drum as they'move back and forth. acrossits surface. An insulating sleeve'142-is provided for the trolley wire1251where it leavesthe winding drum, said wirepreferably extending for aconsiderable distance from the rear of the drum, as

Fig. 21;: This. insulating sleeve may consist of a section ofrubb'er'tub-ing surrounded by a flexible metal armour ig'; 23) toprotect the'rutbber' from wear. The" sleeve is firmly secured to' theguide 140 and the wire travels through the sleeve as'it' is wound ontoand off of the winding drum 124. i

In operating the various parts of the mechanism described,- thetruckcarrying the? trolley drum is runinto the mine'chamben along the tracksupported on its wheels115. It is then lifted from the trackand setatone side of the chamber as shown" at'Iin- Fig. 1

of the drawings This trolley line truclr' may remain within the minechamberat'a'l'l times during the various operations in the" chamberandneed not be moved into and out of the chamber as arethe-oth-erportions of the mining mechanism. The rear endof' the. trolleywire 125 is connected with a" source of electrical current and the wireitself is hung upon the mine props 112 which are'arranged at. the sideof the tracks 32 asthe mining progresses. The forward end of thetroll'eyline remains wound about the drum 124 and is held tautby'the'hrake 129-.The insulation 142'protects the men operat ing at the forward end of themine chamber from electrical shocks by contact with the wire 125. Aftera room has been cleared-by one of the loading machines G of materialpreviously undercut and blasted down; the" trucks 35 and 36 are run intothe cha-mber," being propelled :by the motor 64 and when the truck 35has come'to a point adjacentthe forward end of the trackpreviously laidin the mine chamber, the" cab1'e"85=-is un- Y wound from the drum 7-8and carried for wardly to a point adjacent the frontw'all" of" the minechamber where it is passed about a pulley anchored in the chamber in anysuitable manner and the hook 88 is brought backwardly and fastened toone of the tr-ack I sections. carried by the truck 35. The cable-- isthen wound on thedrum 8 and the track section will be drawn forwardlyover the plate 49 from the truck 35 into' position to form acontinuation ofthe mine track.

When the track I section hasthus been po'sitioned, it is secured inplaceand isreadytocarry the variousmachines for furtheroperation inthemine chamber. The endof'the cable 85 is next secured to the eyes inthefront end of the skids 133. which carry the trolley line wheel 124 andthe trolley line truck is then drawn-forwardly'over the surfacev of themine floor on the skids 1'33'to unwind: an additional section of trolleyline. The jacks .139 are of course: released before the forward movementof the trolley line truck. During the. forward movement of thetrolley'line truck th'eabrake 12-9 is kept set sufiiciently hard toproduce the required tension in. the trolley line; 1251-. When-the truckhas been broughtto itsmew forward" position the jacks 139 are againsecured in place to maintain'the tension on the trolley line andadditionalfsupports for the trolley lme are secured to the mine props inthe rear of the insulating sleeve 142. Additional props 112 may now betaken from the truck 36 and placed in position along the side of thetrack. The mine chamber is likely to vary in height at diflerentpositions and props 112 of maximum required length are carried by thetruck and are shortened by the saw 90 to proper lengths to suitrequirements of the different positions in the mine chamber. After theseoperations have been completed the trucks 35 and 86 are again run out 1of the room' which is now in condition for a second operation ofundercutting, blasting and loading. The motor 119 on'the trolley linetruck is used for winding up the line after the room has been workedoutto its 'full extent and 'it is desired to remove the trolley line fromthe chamber.

I claim: j v i 1. In mining apparatus, the combination with a pair oftrucks, 'of'me'ans for coupling said trucks together,means"adjustable"in elevation andcarried atone end of the forward truckin position to guide track sections onto and off said forward truck, andrope-winding mechanism comprising a rope adapted to have its free endconnected to a track section while being guided onto or off said forwardtruck.

2. In mining apparatus, the combination i with a wheeled truck having acompartment for transporting mine props while occupying a relatively lowposition, of a'saw' on said'tr'uck spaced from said compartment andalso'in a relatively low position with its axis of rotation beneath aplane extending horizontally through the upper edges of the wheels ofthe truck, a motor on said truck, propelling mechanism connected betweenthe motor and the wheels of said truck, 'and' means between said motorand said saw for driving the latter while a prop is held inapproximately horizontal position beneath such upper plane; I i i 1 3.In mining apparatus, the combination with a truck, of a; saw, mountedthereon to occupy a position in an upright plane for rotation onanaxis'beneath the upper plane of said truck, a motor mounted on saidtruck,

driving mechanism between said motor and I low a plane extending" the,

edges of thewheels of the'trulck, a motor 011 said truck, drivingconnections between said motor and said saw, a holder: for mine props, vand means for moving said holder I'GlfitlVG- ly to the saw to effect thecutting ofl' of the ends of the mine props to fit predeterminedpositions in the mine chamber.

g 5. In mining apparatus, the with a wheeled truck, "of a saw. mountedthereon withits axis of rotation extending horizontally beneath ahorizontal plane, ex-

tending through the upper; edges of the wheels. of said truck, .a motormounted onv said truck, driving mechanism between; said motor and saidsaw, a double carr er for receiving a mine prop from either side of thetruck tohold said prop' in transverse posicombination 7 ,v

tion for said saw, to out 01f one end thereof,-

to adjust its length, to' fit a predetermined position in the minechamber, and mechanism operable from either side of the truck forfeeding. the carrier toward the saw.

6. In mining apparatus, the combination a with a pair of trucks, ofmeans for coupling said trucks together, means adjustable in elevationand carried at one end of the forward truck in position to guidetrack'seorope, winding mechanism on theother truck and comprising arope, adapted to have its free end connected to a track section andintermediate portion guidedat an anchorage distant from the truck. v

7. In mining apparatus, the combination with two truck sections coupledtogether, one truck section beingadapted v to transport track sectionsinstacked, relation, of

equipment on the'other truck section for moving track sectionstowardthe'forward end of .the mine'tr ack, and mechanism adjustable inelevation forguiding an uppermost track section from itsstacked'position. 8. In mining apparatus," the combination with acarriage comprising a plurality ,of trucksectio-ns pivotally connectedtogether by a coup-ling member, oneof said truck 'sectionsbeing providedwith a body for supportin ainine track section, of, equipment 1.

carrie by the other trucksection for movon which it is supported, andmechanism supported by the latter truck section 111 spacedrelationwiththe-ground of the mine i c track andin position to-g'uide'the'sai dtracksection toward thes pace beyond the endof the'minetrack.

9. In ining apparatus,the combination ing said-track sectionof'the'trucksection tions onto and off saidfforwardgtruck, and r with a carnagecomprising a pair of trucks pivotally connected together by "a"'1coupling member, the forwardt'ruck being adapted to carry track sectionsin stacked firelation,

rope winding" mechanism on the refer truck and comprising a rope adaptedto have its free end connected, to-th respec ve ra k sections to pullthe same onto or off the forward truck, .a guide plate for directingi-the' tracksections onto or off the forward 'truc k, and means formounting said guide 0 platoon the forward truck foradjustment inelevation corresponding to the elevati n ofthe' uppermost track sectionon the forward truck.

10. In mining apparatus, the combination a truck having a; magazine to:support plurality of mine props laid horizontally and extendingtransversely to the path of tijavel of said truck alon a mine track, and

means on saidtrucka jacent said .maga, zine for cutt n off the ends ofsaid props individl l'ly hile'voccupying a position on said trucktransvers of the mine track to secure props of varying lengths to "fitdifferent. positions in the mine chamber.

11. The combination with a truck having a compartment for transporting aplurality ,of m'in e props, a motor on said truck, anda .saw' occupyinga relatively low position near said compartment on said truck inanupright plane eritendin longitudinally of said to. said motor to bedriven thereby for severing said props individually into variouslengths.

i 12. In mining apparatus, a truck having' acompartment thereon fortransporting mine props into a mine chamber, a motor on said truck, asaw on said truck arranged to be driven by said motor, and a sawcarriagearranged to' hold one f sa d mine PYQPS .an tomove i p intoengagementfwith said saw to out said prop into a proper length to beusedina m e cham 13, In miningapparatus, the combination with, a. truckhaving a compartment for transporting {mine props while occupying arelatively low position, of a saw on said ti'ilcksipaced from saidcompartment and also. in a relatively low position, a motor on saidtruck, propelling mechanism connected between said motor and the wheelsof said truck,;and means between said motor and said sawfordriving thelatter: While a prop is. held iii-approximately horizontal positionbeneath-the upper plane of the truck. 14 In mining'apparatus, a truckhaving compartments arranged ateachside thereof fons rpportinga tierofmine props so that 5. .1. 11 props may be. removed from said truck at.eachgsideythereof, a saw for severing the endsof saidprops, and acarriage for receiving said props at each side. of :said truckandtenpresenting said props to said saw 1.5.111 raining appa atus, atruck having eampantrnenfis at each, ofthe-opposite; Sides th 'fipifior. holding mine props, and means 1dtr lfik operable from either sidethereqlfi Q severing portions ofthe ends from said in aprons.

1, 6,. Inmmining apparatus, a. truck having chamber.

trally mountedon said truck, a carriagehaving a section at each side ofsaidtrucklfor receiving props tobe cut bysaid saw, and mechanismoperable from either side ofsaid truck for movingsaid.carriagetowardsaid saw to feed a prop supported thereby intoengagement with said saw.

17. In mining apparatus, a :truck for trans-porting material into a minechamber, a motor on said truck, mechanism driven bysaid motor forpropelling said truck into and outofsaid chambeiga power devicecarriedbysaid truck and arranged to bedriven bvsaidmotor for movingmaterial into position in :said chamber, and mechanism mounted on saidtruck and arranged to be driven thereby for preparing material for usein saidzchamber. I I

18. In .,n1 ining apparatus, a truck for transporting mine .props into amine chamher, a motor on said truck, means operated by said-motor forpropelling said tru'cfk into and out of amine chamber, awinding drumvmounted on said truck and arranged to be driven by said motor for movingmaterial in said chamber, and a saw carried by said truck and arrangedto be dripen by said motor for cutting the props carried by said truckinto proper lengths'to be used in said 19. In mining apparatus, a truckhaving a motor mounted thereon, an axle journaled on said truck andconnectedwith the wheels thereof to drive said wheels a sleeve journaledon said axle and geared to said motor, a clutch for connecting saidsleeve with said axle. a drum mounted'on said truck, gearing for drivingsaid drum from said sleeve, and a'clutch for connecting said drum withsaid gearing'i I v I a 20. In mining apparatus, the combination with atruck of a saw mounted thereon to occupy a position in an "upright planeintermediate the sides of said truck, ainotor mounted on saidtruck;driving'mechanism between said motor and said saw, and a car= rierin which a mine prop may be inserted from one side of the truck and heldin transverse position for said saw to out ofi one end of said mine propto' adjust its length to fit a predetermined location in amine chamber.I

21. In mining apparatus, a carriage coinprising a pair of truckspivotal-1y connected

